Happy Saturday

Looking back at my records, I have noticed a correlation between a dip in my non-IHC forms/training and when we moved to monthly open trainings.  [Insert shameless plug here for tracking numbers and journaling].

My morning weekday training puts a focus on my IHC requirements.  Push-ups, sit-ups, my chosen forms, etc, etc.  This is also when I do my meditation and chi work (part of a personal IHC goal).  Prior to August, I was then utilizing the weekly Saturday open training to work on anything that hadn't gotten any attention during the week.  Things like my non-IHC forms, additional kick repetitions, tai chi and anything else that we perhaps focused on in class.  I had also started taking the kids with me and was really enjoying that training time together.  I felt I had established a really good balance with this approach.

Since moving to monthly open trainings, my weekend training has taken a big hit.  That motivation I needed on the weekend to get up and moving is gone.  The opportunity to use the Kwoon to work on anything I wanted and to really spread out and move, without the confines of my smaller home space, is no longer available.  And I can see that my overall training has suffered.  Those Saturdays really stimulated my training, providing some much needed motivation and rejuvenation heading into the week ahead.

Day to day training can easily get stagnant.  Open training was my spark and kept things fresh.

The purpose of this blog isn't to complain.  I understand why the change was implemented.  But I can see now that this particular change was a bigger deal for me than I had initially thought.

Although I haven't quite figured out how to re-stimulate my Saturdays yet, I do recognize that I need to find a way to re-establish that balance I had.

Love/Hate? Or Hate/Love?

I hate these new circuit classes Sihing Csillag has started.  They are so frickin' hard!

I always try to start with the station that I find the most difficult....just to get it over with first, before I'm completely gassed.  This is typically the lateral jump.  I hate the lateral jump.  If the lateral jump isn't available (but it always is), I'd go for the kicking station.  This past Monday we ended up going through it twice.  Granted we got a short break.  But the second time through I really, truly hated the lateral jump.  By the time I got to the kicking station, I wanted to slowly crawl to a corner, curl up into the fetal position and quietly cry myself to sleep.

I love these new circuit classes Sihing Csillag has started.  They are so frickin' awesome!

I'm a glutton for punishment.  I know this stuff is good for me.  And I love that feeling of accomplishment and euphoria after a truly grueling physical endeavor.  I have a competitive desire to "beat" the tasks that I find truly challenging.  One of these days I'm going to kick the lateral jumps a#$.  And to be quite honest, I'm already feeling more confident with the kicking stations.  Not so much with my current technical ability, but with pushing myself to my limit and feeling good about my efforts.

When I recognize that it will be a circuit class, I feel both excitement and dread.  Exhilaration and apprehension.  So yes.  This seems to be a love/hate relationship I have.  But I like to think of it more as a hate/love relationship...it starts with hate, but if I truly push myself, it ends up as love.

If I only hate something like this, it probably means that I am not looking at it from the right perspective.  I'm not seeing the benefits and am only seeing it as a hoop.  Yet if I only love something like this, it might be an indication that I'm no longer pushing myself to the limit.  

So for something like this, I tend to think a hate/love relationship is the best kind to have.

Put Me In Coach

Step 2 of the black belt success cycle is to "Have a plan (and a success coach)".

Although the "coach" part is in brackets, it is a very important detail.

A goal I am currently working towards is improving my spinning back kick.  I have recruited Todai Burke as my success coach, and have met with her a few times to get feedback.  Unfortunately my fall break was filled with company and renovation work in my home.  And I found myself without much space.  Certainly not enough for spinning back kicks.  But without any classes or open training, I didn't feel all that worried about it since we wouldn't be meeting.  And so I left it off my radar.

It later turned out that Todai Burke needed some assistance one day near the end of the break.  And I was happy to help.  When I got to the Kwoon, the heavy bag was pulled out, ready for some spinning back kick work.  I had a brief moment of panic because I hadn't expected it; worried because I hadn't thrown any all week, but when you have a second degree brown belt offering you their time and knowledge, you take it.  Although this was not the main purpose of the meeting, she recognized the opportunity and threw it at me.

Finding the right person to coach you with a goal is an important part of finding success.  It's near impossible to consistently and continuously keep yourself on track with a goal.  A coach is there, not only for the feedback and experience, but to poke and prod; to push and to challenge you in ways you can't for yourself.

And now that I've written this blog, I can clearly see that the goals that I can't seem to get a handle on and seem to be failing at, are also the ones that I haven't made the effort to find a coach for.  Coincidence?  Doubtful.

"One way [to mastery] is to surround yourself with friends who ask more of you than you do.  Didn't some of your best teachers, coaches, parents, etc?" - Stewart Emery

I AM Connected

A compliment bestowed upon me from the Tim Horton's employee not only made me smile, but reiterated the power of this requirement and led to some interesting reflection.  

It was a simple gesture yes, but one I recognized she didn't have to make.  Remaining quiet would not have made her a bad or unkind person.  But in that moment, she chose to act and it made a difference.  Possibly a bigger difference than it might have on a different day or with a different person.

I could have just accepted the compliment, moved on, and let it dissipate behind me.  But today it stuck out.  And what stuck out was not just the act itself, but how I actively chose to receive it.

I think it's important that we not only perform acts of kindness in a thoughtful and mindful way, but that we are receiving them in this manner as well.  Every act of kindness we are given should be appreciated and acknowledged.  We are not entitled to these acts.  They should not be expected.  When we begin taking those acts of kindness for granted, we are keeping them from their full potential.  Each and every one is a special gift, so much more powerful than anything material.  When someone takes the time to gift me an act of kindness, they are actually gifting me with connection.  And that's a very special thing.

"I love those connections that make this big old world feel like a little village." - Gina Bellman

I AM Resourceful

My in-laws are visiting.  My usual training area is right outside their bedroom door.  I don't want to wake them at 6am.

Even if I didn't care about that, the kids' rooms are also getting new carpet and paint.  And so all of their belongings and furniture are scattered throughout the house....taking up what feels like every available inch.

The circumstances this week are trying, to say the least.  The house is a disaster.  My normal routine is a bust.  I feel out of sorts in my own home.  Mediocrity is trying to convince me to take the week off...justifying it by the fact that I really don't have any options or space.  But that would be a lie.  There are always options.

And so I am training in my bathroom.  If that's not being resourceful, I don't know what is.  😣

I AM Resourceful.

Lost Thoughts

I've realized recently that I've been missing so many opportunities with my blogging.  I have so many blogs started, that remain unfinished.  So many notes and details in my journal that never made their way to the keyboard.  And unfortunately, being that there are so many of them, they probably won't. 

When I look over all these bits and pieces scattered over the last couple years, I feel sad.  Sad that I didn't take the time to reflect on so many of them.  Sad that I didn't take the time to include them in my journey.  They are thoughts that are now lost to me because I can no longer recall the circumstances or context, although I know they were important, because I made a point of jotting them down for later.

These lost thoughts have inspired me to set a certain goal for this coming Year of the Rabbit.  That goal is to challenge myself to blogging every day.

My intent is not only to create a detailed record of my training, but also to inspire the daily reflection that I feel I am missing as a regular part of my day.

This will not be easy.  I recognize this.  Some days my reflection might be amazing and insightful....and others might simply be a record of how the day went and some of the random thoughts that may have popped into my head.  Either way that daily reflection, and that daily record, will hopefully paint an accurate, and invaluable, picture of my journey.

Kung Fu'ing My Kids Part 8 of...

Ever since my journey began with SRKF in 2019, I've always believed that there was something special about Kung Fu kids.  Right from the start I was in awe of all the amazing young people training there.  They were (are) so talented, confident, respectful, self-aware and driven, just to name a few things.  And what I saw in them is what I want for my own kids.

I recently had a small group of children in my care for Emma's slumber party birthday.  Half were Kung Fu friends.  Half were school friends.  And I have to say, the difference between the two was not lost on me.  I'm not saying that the non-Kung Fu kids were bad, by any means.  Emma has some great friends.  But those that practice Kung Fu not only struck me as more accepting and welcoming with people they didn't know, but also seemed more independent, confident and self-aware.

Perhaps because this was a small group I shouldn't make such conclusions.  Or perhaps with my own kids in Kung Fu, this was a biased observation.  But I really don't think so.  It certainly wasn't something I was looking for or anticipating and I didn't go into the situation looking for differences.  I simply noticed certain things in each of the kids, and found myself making this connection.

And although these Kung Fu kids were not my own, I found myself really proud of them, as if they were.

IHC Number Update - November 8, 2022

 

My November IHC Update - Year of the Tiger

Year of the Tiger - Feb 1, 2022 to Jan 21, 2023 (354 days)

Base Requirements

✅ Hand Form - Dou Ti  785/1000

✅ Weapon Form - Stick 1 and 2  786/1000

❌ Push-ups  39,022/50,000  60,000

❌ Sit-ups  38,589/50,000  60,000

❌ Sparring  646/1000 *I feel like I'm so far behind on this that I've just thrown it to the wayside.  I acknowledge that this is a poor attitude.  And I have a feeling sparring might be something I always struggle to prioritize.

✅ Kilometers 1475/1609

✅ Acts of Kindness 812/1000

✅ Blogging/Online Presence

✅ Unexcused Absences

➖ Mastery by Stewart Emery *Not memorized...but I have been reading this more consistently!

✅ Mend a Relationship

➖ Lion Dancing - Instructors call

❌ Tiger Challenge

✅ Public Performances

➖ Core Curriculum - Instructors call

✅ SRKF Projects and Initiatives

Personal Requirements

➖ Learn how to reclaim my pottery clay

⭐ Establish a 15 minute/2km run time

⭐ Box Jumps

✅ Monthly date with Dan

❌ Lion Dance Drumming *I'm embarrassed that this is still a big red X

✅ Weekend Kung Fu Training with Kids

✅ Chi Development

❌ 3 x 1 Month "Clean Eating Challenge" -  This is obviously not a priority as it's Nov 8 and I missed it again.  I need to re-evaluate this goal.

✅ Record Numbers of all known forms.  There is no specific number I'm trying to reach.  My personal requirement is simply to record them.

• Awakening the Dragon = 30
• Broadsword 1-2 = 17
• Da Mu Hsing 1-5 = 74
• Hsieh Chien = 33
• Lao Gar 1-3 = 50
• Long 1 = 28
• Hung 1-2 = 44
• 18 Temple Motions = 19

❌  I AM Project 16/30 *For someone who likes blogging, it's frustrating that I continue to struggle with this.

What Happens If.....??

As per the recent recommendation that we poke our forms with a stick, and try doing them in different ways, I have so far attempted the following with my hand form.

Eyes closed

I experienced many of the same things that Todai Burke mentioned.  I was off balance and became disoriented with my sense of direction.  I also became hesitant, for obvious reasons such as bumping into something.  I learned that hesitating isn't the same as moving slowly.  At first my focus was still on the external and I was trying to replicate my form how I am able to with my eyes open.  But essentially that's not possible.  So instead I thought, what could I possibly gain with no vision?  So I turned my focus inward.  I paid closer attention to my chi and how it flows and moves when I do my form.  I moved slow and consciously, feeling my energy move in and out and around as I did each technique.  Without vision, I also tried to use my chi to "see" any barriers around me.  Sometimes I was right.  Sometimes I hit the wall.  Either way, it was quite interesting and I will play with this more.

Rotating my start direction between reps 

It's funny how we tend to always face the same way when we are in the same space.  But I was pleasantly surprised with this.  In the past, rotating my start direction would throw me off.  This time, however, it didn't.  I feel that's an indication that the form has become more familiar to me and visual cues are no longer needed, nor are my surroundings a distraction.

With a knife in one hand

The knife was an easier one to incorporate into a hand form since it's small and is used one-handed.  But it was interesting to adjust my strikes for the knife.  Punch to stab.  Knife hand to "knife" hand...lol.

With my stick

This was kind of neat.  The stick is such a balanced weapon so it wasn't too-too difficult to incorporate.  Harder than the knife I found, simply because of the length and that it uses both hands.  With so many kicks in my form I attempted to strike out with my stick at the same time.  I actually found that having both hands stuck to one weapon was helpful at times and made me more conscious of maintaining my center.  I think I tend to let my arms go rogue.

With a Kwan Dao

The Kwan Dao basically took over my form.  It was very interesting trying to figure out how to wield such a large weapon while maintaining flow.  I also became very aware of how important my center and posture are with such a large weapon to throw things off.  And if holding a bigger weapon can throw my stances off, then I would imagine an opponent actually trying to do just that, certainly would be able to.  

I've used a knife and stick so far in my IHC forms.  The knife can only turn in your hand when you want it to.  If the stick rotates in your hand, it doesn't matter as there is no edge or blade to be cognizant of.  The Kwan Dao is tricky because as you move, the stick rotates and the blade will turn.  And soon enough you realize, when you go to strike, that the blade isn't positioned properly.  So this weapon is certainly more complex than anything I've used.  Which if course, means a challenge.  Which I can't seem to turn down.